Liverpool noticed Darwin Nunez rating a hat-trick in a behind-closed-doors pleasant in opposition to Stoke on Sunday, however that was not the one speaking level to emerge from the 5-0 win.
With practically two weeks between organised pre-season friendlies, Liverpool organised a behind-closed-doors match on the AXA in opposition to Championship opposition, with 23 completely different gamers used.
Alisson was considered one of three first-team gamers not concerned – the others being Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister – as Nunez, Rio Ngumoha and Federico Chiesa obtained on the scoresheet.
First Half XI: Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Nyoni, Jones, Wirtz; Salah, ngumoha, nunez
Second half XI: Mamardashvili (Pecess 59′); Bradley, Conate, Symbols; Gravenberch, Endo, Gakpo; Doak, Doak (74′ Stephenson), Chiesa
Subs not used: Misciur, Pilling
Objectives: Nunez (3), Ngumoha, Chiesa
It’s nonetheless solely pre-season, thus positions and any Slot experiments can’t be learn into an excessive amount of, however they nonetheless provide dialogue factors as we inch nearer to the season opener.
Listed here are seven speaking factors from Sunday’s behind-closed-doors pleasant.
No Luis Diaz, however he did make tour squad
Diaz was not concerned on Sunday however has travelled to Hong Kong with the squad amid bids from Bayern Munich for his companies.
Initially, his absence was interpreted as edging nearer to an exit as neither membership would need to threat an damage, however he has since travelled to the opposite aspect of the world with Liverpool.
Chiesa, in the meantime, was reportedly left behind because of a minor concern after scoring within the 88th minute and enjoying 45 minutes with an exit on the playing cards for the Italian.
We are able to learn extra into Diaz’s state of affairs if he’s, once more, overlooked on Saturday in opposition to AC Milan.
Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back
When the preliminary group leak dropped, many anticipated Curtis Jones to be the right-back for the primary half, nevertheless it was as a substitute Dominik Szoboszlai.
He took up a really superior place and arrange Nunez’s second from the huge place.
We can’t learn an excessive amount of into positions this early in pre-season, nevertheless it did trace extra at Slot’s ideas for the full-back function – which may flip depending on selection of personnel.
The overlap and flexibility of Slot’s choices give him the license to be versatile on the appropriate and left, with a again three of types created in possession – on this case it included Andy Robertson.
One to observe develop because the summer time goes on!
Rio Ngumoha seeing loads of recreation time
After 45 minutes at Preston, Ngumoha was given one other half of soccer alongside common first-team gamers – together with new signing Florian Wirtz.
The 16-year-old isn’t quick on confidence and appears to have grown into his physique over the summer time, with Slot exhibiting early indicators of belief in utilising him in his pure function on the left wing.
This Is Anfield understands he is not going to go on mortgage and is taken into account a part of the first-team squad this season, and early performances have underlined why that call has been made.
He’s creating properly and the upcoming two-stop tour of Asia will provide extra well timed challenges.
Florian Wirtz because the No. 10
Wirtz is a pure No. 10 and his ‘debut’ provided glimpses at what we will count on and that’s a composed operator who shortly sees and finds passing lanes.
He can function on the left wing, versatility that Slot wishes, however on this event we noticed him occupy the No. 10 place and transfer himself intelligently into the half areas.
A participant that by no means appears to be like to be overcome by strain, Mo Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Co. might be licking their lips.
Alisson not within the image
Alisson has been coaching together with his teammates however has but to be concerned in match simulation this summer time having been omitted from each friendlies thus far.
The Brazilian has recent competitors this season in Giorgi Mamardashvili and has seen his shut ally Claudio Taffarel depart, lending itself to considerations over his function transferring ahead.
It’s peculiar, however he has travelled with the squad to Hong Kong and might be anticipated to function extra prominently transferring ahead with lower than a month earlier than the brand new season kicks off.
Jeremie Frimpong on the wing
Jeremie Frimpong might be simply as a lot of an attacking choice as he might be at right-back, particularly when Salah departs for AFCON over Christmas.
He was deployed as the appropriate winger in opposition to Stoke with Conor Bradley behind him, and protected to say the Dutchman has tempo to burn – a top quality that we wanted an injection of this summer time, and we’ve obtained it!
Frimpong was utilised as a typical right-back at Preston, giving Slot an early have a look at his capabilities alongside the appropriate flank within the first weeks of pre-season.
4 objectives in two pre-season outings for Nunez, who has been taking his possibilities properly throughout his 90 minutes of motion thus far – scoring his hat-trick in opposition to Stoke inside the primary 20 minutes.
How lengthy he might be within the shirt stays to be seen, although, after Liverpool agreed a deal value as much as £79 million for Ekitike, who is predicted to hitch the squad in Hong Kong later this week.
It’s good to see the Uruguayan with some confidence restored however his No. 9 shirt nonetheless appears to be like destined to be donned by one other for 2025/26.
